updated 04:22 pm EDT, Tue April 16, 2013

Rancor over Android likely to keep

Google would like Apple to return to Google Maps in a future version of iOS, chairman Eric Schmidt said today at an AllThingsD conference. "We would still really like them to use our maps," said Schmidt. "It would be easy for them to take the app in the store and put it as their basic one." The executive declined to comment on why Apple went with a proprietary system instead of continuing to use Google code and data, or whether the two companies are in talks.

Apple is believed to have abandoned Google Maps partly over disputes about the latter's Maps Navigation, but mainly because Apple wants to distance itself on a business level, given the ascendency of Android as a rival mobile platform. The switch has so far backfired however, as iOS 6's Maps app has been met with widespread criticism. The app lacks the same level of detail and accuracy that Google has, as well as features many users took for granted in iOS, like Street View and built-in public transit directions.

While Apple could reverse course, the company appears to be holding steady for iOS 7. It has even been hiring new workers for its Maps team, mainly to fix mistakes which in some instances have led people dangerously off-course when driving.

People led dangerously off course?

Dangerously? Really? If your map tells you to drive off a dead end road into a river and you do, is that really the map's fault, or the idiot driver? Inconveniently off course, yes. Dangerously? Come on.

Jerkfaced Thief

comment titleCompetition IS GOOD.

Apple maps had an very rough start, Apple could have done a lot of things better (rather than appologize for a poor product); but now, the maps are not as bad as they were, of course there is rookm for improvement and Google maps are still king, for now, but Apple's offering will only get better with use reports and engeneering experience.

So as long as Apple offers one more alternative to the current monopoly, users will be better served.

Maps

Maps wasn't ready at launch, though even then it wasn't as bad as people pretended. It was fine for street names and things like that, it just didn't know where a lot of businesses were. Now they've gotten a lot better about that stuff. I installed Google Maps a while ago, and the UI is ugly and is very Google and very non-iOS. I think I might still have it in a folder somewhere but I never use it.

It's not you Google, it's me.

Apple should respond to Schmidt "Thanks. We're sure you'd be a great map app for some other OS out there, but we're just in different places right now. You're really great, but it's not you Google, it's me. "